Xbox One Preview's most vocal users will get a chance to test Windows 10 for Xbox

Mark Hachman |
Sept. 11, 2015

The more feedback Preview gamers posted, the better their chances to be part of this select subset of testers for the New Xbox One Experience.

Xbox One Preview users who've been the most vocal in providing feedback will be first in line for the New Xbox One Experience—in other words, Windows 10 for the Xbox One. Microsoft said Thursday it will invite a small, active group of users to help test out the new look and feel of the Xbox One. The NXOE will launch in “early November,” Microsoft said in a blog post.

The new experience will introduce Xbox 360 backward-compatibility, a feature that Xbox gamers have wanted for some time. Microsoft has also promised a more social experience with a new Community section, as well as a revamped OneGuide that focuses on apps as much as live TV—a theme that Apple also sounded in its announcement of its new Apple TV, incidentally. Finally, Microsoft will revamp its Store, placing movies and TV shows alongside apps and music, all in one spot.

Why this matters: If you’re a gamer that doesn’t want to futz with his Xbox setup, then this isn’t for you. There’s always the possibility that the NXOE will break something, and you’ll be unable to unwind one night with the new Madden game, The Witcher III, or more. But if you’d like to be in on the next wave of code, Microsoft can accommodate you, provided you’ll be willing to help out.

How it will work

According to Microsoft, here’s what you’ll need to do to participate:

First, you’ll have to opt in for it. The Preview members who have submitted the most feedback will be among the first invited, with larger and larger groups invited over subsequent waves. “Our goal is to start with a group, get feedback, then roll out to larger groups for additional feedback over time,” Microsoft said.

Users who have been invited will receive an Xbox Live message. If you do, you’ll need to launch the Preview Dashboard, select the registration option, and then opt in to the 'Preview – New Xbox One Experience.'

You don’t have to opt in—you can still be part of the Preview Experience and still receive Preview updates. You just won’t be invited to preview the NXOE code. The NXOE builds will roll out every few weeks, Microsoft said.